SMCS System Newsletter - 8/21/24
SYSTEM NEWSLETTER
August 21, 2024
Welcome to the SMCS 2024-25 School Year!
You can expect to see this SMCS newsletter every other Wednesday, except holiday weeks when school is not in session. This "cover letter" version of the newsletter pertains to events and items for our ENTIRE St. Mary Catholic Schools system. We know it can be a challenge to stay informed with busy families, but this is an important conduit for school information. Please try to review the system AND campus news for your child(ren).
Find specific news for each campus by clicking on the photo below.
From the President
A note from Dan McKenna, President of St. Mary Catholic Schools
Nothing compares to the sense of hope and newness at the start of the new school year. Freshly waxed floors, boxes of unused crayons, and classrooms with enthusiastic teachers - all of these speak of endless possibility. The only thing missing is the energy of our young people - your children - as they make their way into a new adventure. They are the reason we are here.
This year at St. Mary Catholic Schools, you will hear us talk more about the Zephyr Way. It is a phrase we use to capture all of what it means to be a part of this community. It conveys our goal of being the very best, and it applies to all of us: students, teachers, staff, and parents. At its core, the Zephyr Way is a shared path that calls us to be responsible, be respectful, be kind, be joyful, and to believe. We are excited to walk together with you on this journey!
This school year promises to be exceptional. SMCS enrollment is growing, our teachers are fired up, and our faith remains at the center of all we do. Our goal is to be the best and we are doing it now.
Over the coming weeks,, you will be invited by division (e.g. elementary, middle, and high school) to join Zoom meetings with me and other SMCS administrators. We will discuss our shared vision for our Schools, and provide a forum to answer questions from participants on the calls.
Meanwhile, I invite you to reach out to me. My cell number is 512-987-1363. I am eager to hear your story and share with you more details about the Zephyr Way and our commitment to creating extraordinary educational experiences for your children at the best schools in Wisconsin.
God Bless and Go Zephyrs!
Dan
SMCS Mission
Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives,
rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition.
Zephyrs Connect
Fun-filled Fall event supports our extracurriculars *and* kicks off Homecoming week!
What could be better than a beautiful fall day with food, a Fun Run, kids' games, and entertainment? There's something for everyone at Zephyrs Connect! We invite people of all ages to join this open-air celebration at Zephyrs Fields on Sunday, September 29 from 2:00-6:00 pm. This year, Zephyrs Connect will lead right into the Homecoming pep rally, complete with Powderpuff football game, tug-o-war, and the "Lighting of the Z", all beginning at 6:00!
Schedule of Events
2:00 p.m. Registration/Check-in with Entertainment, Kids' Games, & Concessions
3:30 p.m. Kids' Fun Run
4:00 p.m. Fun Run/Walk
The Fun Run has divisions and distances by age / grade, concluding with the 5K Fun Run/Walk. Pre-registration for participants is greatly appreciated! Other attendees do not need to register. You can register at the link below or download the form.
Show your business or family support for the extraordinary extracurriculars at St. Mary Catholic Schools. There are very exciting new sponsorship opportunities this year! Contact Kathleen McCurdy, SMCS Director of Advancement, kmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org or 920-722-7796 x201
All Aboard! Mark Your Calendar & Lend a Hand!
Saturday, November 2nd at The 513 in Downtown Appleton
What can you expect at All Aboard? Lots of laughter and Zephyrs spirit as we bring together parents, friends, and supporters of SMCS. This year's theme is "Masquerade Party". Play games, bid on silent auction items, and sign up for event boards to make more memories in the months ahead. The highlight of the night will be the first ever Zephyrs "Masked Singer" competition!
Funds & Fun for Everyone!
A quick guide to the year's events for SMCS Fundraisers
At St. Mary Catholic Schools, we believe that the best way to support a worthy cause is to bring people together to have a great time and build authentic community. These are the system fundraising events, with a note of what each initiative supports. We hope you can plan to attend, and better still, invite friends and family to join you in letting our light shine this year!
Zephyrs Connect on Sunday, September 29
All Aboard on Saturday, November 2
This casual event for adults has become a favorite way for the SMCS Community to grow as a "family of families". Held this year at The 513 in downtown Appleton, we'll have a magnificent "Masquerade Party". All proceeds go to SMCS operations, with an emphasis on special projects or particular needs.
ZCabaret on Friday, Jan. 31 & Saturday, Feb. 1
ZephyrFest on Saturday, May 3
STEM Saturday - Date TBD in Spring 2025
Greater Zephyrs Open on Monday, July 14
The GZO is the only fundraiser exclusively for all levels of SMCS athletics. Featuring a round at the beautiful Ridgeway Country Club, this golf scramble is for all ability levels, and is likely to sell out again in 2025. Together with exciting raffles and hole prizes, the GZO makes for a sensational day on the links!
SMCS Social Media
Stay on track with the Zephyrs
Like & Follow St. Mary Catholic Schools on social media... and please help elevate our profile in the community by reacting to and sharing posts often!
***Keep in mind that your specific campus may also have a parent group for Facebook that can be a helpful resource. Contact your school office for more information.***
SCRIP Orders (aka RaiseRight)
Scrip Update & Back to School Information
According to our Scrip calendar, this week is the last week of our summer delivery schedule. Starting next week (the week of August 26), we will resume our regular school year schedule of deliveries being sent to all 5 campuses and 3 parishes. If your child has changed campuses and therefore you need your delivery location changed, please take the time to email our RaiseRight coordinator Liz Uhlenbrauck (luhlenbrauck@smcatholicschools.org) so she can update your RaiseRight/Scrip profile.
Bonus Rebate Offered for Kwik Trip - During the month of September, Kwik Trip is offering a 5% bonus on our existing rebates. Regular gas card rebates will go up to 10% and grocery only cards will go up to 20%. This bonus rebate does not include car wash cards. Plan ahead and take advantage of this rebate bonus!
Fall Athletics Schedule
Cheer on the Zephyrs at these upcoming HOME events!
For complete listing of all SMCS sporting events, check out the Big East Calendar
Please remember that no dogs/pets are allowed on the SMCS campuses, with the exception of licensed service dogs.
Thursday, 8/22 at 4:00 pm – Girls Varsity Tennis Invitational
Friday, 8/23 at 7:00 pm – Boys Varsity Football vs. Amherst
Tuesday, 8/27 at 4:00 pm – Girls Varsity Tennis Match vs. Sheboygan Falls
Tuesday, 8/27 – MS Volleyball
Wednesday, 8/28 at 5:00 pm – Girls Varsity Volleyball Quad
Thursday, 8/29 – MS Volleyball
Thursday, 8/29 at 6:00 pm – Boys Varsity Soccer v. New Holstein
Tuesday, 9/3 at 6:00 pm – MS Football
Wednesday, 9/4 – MS Volleyball
Thursday, 9/5 at 4:00 pm – Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Kewaskum
Thursday, 9/5 at 7:00 pm – Varsity Football vs. Valders
Friday, 9/6 at 5:30 pm & 7:00 pm – Volleyball JV2, JV, & Varsity
Check out the Spirit Stop for your Zephyrs Gear!
The Spirit Stop is located at the St. Mary Catholic High School Commons, adjacent to the Ralph "Cyclone" McClone Gymnasium. The Spirit Stop will be open for all of your back to school clothing needs on Monday, August 26 from 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM. This is the same day as the high school and middle school orientation. We will also have hours of availability during the school year, and that schedule will be released shortly. The Spirit Stop has a variety of adult-sized clothing, as well as baseball caps, winter beanies, and blankets available for sale. Unfortunately, we do not carry small kids clothing in stock in the store, but we do have several options online. For this and more, be sure to check out our online store here: St. Mary Catholic Schools Online Store | Silly Toast Designs | powered by OrderMyGear (itemorder.com)
Visit the online store frequently, as we will be adding new styles throughout the different seasons. We can't wait to see you sporting your Zephyrs pride!
Open Positions at SMCS
We are growing, and looking for amazing people who believe in our mission of "Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives, rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition." Click here to view our current employment opportunities for St. Mary Catholic Schools.
How Big Is Your Heart?
Becoming a host family for an international student for St. Mary Catholic Schools makes the world smaller and your heart bigger! There is nothing quite like the joy of sharing culture, traditions, and everyday life with a young person from another country. You'll develop relationships that last a lifetime, and your hospitality creates a welcoming environment for a student to absorb the American experience beyond the classroom! To help support room and board, the ABC Education exchange program offers a stipend of $600 per month for a host family, and in addition, you can receive a $2,000 tuition credit for St. Mary Catholic Schools for your own child. To learn more, contact Kelly Beisenstein-Weiss at kbweiss@smcatholicschools.org
A Back-to-School Prayer
Good and gracious God, thank you for the gift of this new school year. Be with our children, our parents, our teachers and staff, as we grow and learn together. Fill our schools with joy, with kindness, and with excitement to embark on this journey.
Help us to see Your face in classmates, co-workers, and families. Protect us from harm or discouragement. Give us patience in difficulty, and peace in times of anxiety. May our schools be alive with the love of your Son, Jesus, in whose Name we pray. Amen.
Mary, our Patron and Mother of us all... pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts... forever.
Entrust Retreat - a Parish Opportunity to Grow in Discipleship
Interested in Volunteering at SMCS?
We are so grateful for our volunteers and are always looking for new and returning faces to help out in our schools!
Please visit the Volunteer Hub on our website to learn more about how you can complete the required steps to volunteer with SMCS.
If you are already a volunteer with SMCS, please ensure you have completed all Safe Environment requirements through Virtus Online- background check, online Virtus annual retraining, and annual acknowledgment form.
If you have any questions on the Safe Environment process, please reach out to the Human Resources department: pfoulks@smcatholicschools.org and ckind@smcatholicschools.org.
Helpful Links
*** If you have changes to your email address or other updates, please click on "Contact" at the very bottom of this newsletter, but ALSO be sure to update any changes in your PowerSchool account!